Josh is an African and African diasporic scholar. He is currently a PhD candidate at the University of Pittsburgh; his dissertation, “Gifts from Nature,” is a crucial and timely response to the Anthropocene. His research examines and utilizes sound, music, and African Indigenous Knowledge through ethnography and community engagement to advocate for environmental sustainability in Ghana. His study conceptualizes natural resources, musical talents, and sounds as Gifts from Nature to interrogate the disrupted relationship between humans, non-humans, and nature amid the prevailing global ecological crisis. In essence, “Gifts from Nature” effectively highlights how African indigenous ontologies and epistemologies, conveyed through music and sound, can inform modern strategies in dealing with the Anthropocene.

As an applied music scholar, Josh is keen to ensure his research benefits the communities he engages with. He states, “My commitment as a scholar extends beyond the academy–- responding to real human conditions I witness. For now, my goal is to leverage music and sound for environmental sustainability.” Josh collaborates with musicians and poets to use music to enhance ecological awareness. Beyond his research, Josh is also a musician, composer, and performer of Afrobeats, Highlife, Jazz, Palmwine music, and classical guitar.

Josh’s current project is a testament to his broader interdisciplinary approach, bridging the gap between theory and practice. His primary focus is on the role of music and sound in enhancing the well-being of humans, non-humans, and the natural environment. His research intersects with several disciplines, such as African music, Sound Studies, Sustainability, and Economic anthropology. His scholarship also engages with Black studies, Indigenous studies, Material cultural studies, Music industries, Critical race theory, and Ecomusicology.